Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-22
THE sTATE:UNIvERsITY.
some Sensible Talk About the Chair of
Biology and Medicine.


To he Editor Of TIE Register:
Never were words more fifty spoken than
in your editorial, this morning, on The
Alleged Chair of Biology and Medicine in
the University" Such chair was never
a wise provision in the institution, and
this pretence has been a damage to the
student by loss of valuable time, and the
waste of all the money it has cost to main
tain II from the Treasury Of the State. As
you have indicated, no doubt, il this cost
OF giving lectures on Anatomy, Physiology
and Hygiene to the half-dOzen or more
students who have sought such instruction
at the University, were correctly stated,
the same sum of money would more than
pay for thorough course in Baltimore,
Philadelphia or New York, travelling eX-
penSCS included.
Under the direction of the late Prof II.
W. Brook, NJ. D.,-the first occupant OF
the chair-the department WAS able repre-
scented, for as a physician, surgeon and
teacher, he had no superior in the state.
His successor, the late Prof. +. w. Allen,
NJ. d., brought with him to the University
ten years experience as a teacher OF anatO-
my in the University of Virginia, and WAS,
indeed, a professional man OF superior
| learning and skill.
The younger Brock, who has Just been
summarily retired to make place for a
Young physician, who has yet to win for
| himself a name in the profession,
was regarded by his professional
brethren in the State ~ particularly
we'll qualified to discharge the duties OF
the Office. With such II record for the
chair since its establishment-which has
| been more ornamental than useful to the
| State-what will be the verdict of the gen
eral public concerning the action of the
Regents IN appointing an inexperienced
boy" rs Professor of Biology and Medicine:
1t was farce of inexpreSsible proportions
for how can biology be taught without ]
fully equipped laboratory, and what Is the
use of fully equipped laboratory without
| the direction of skilled instructor in that
the most difficult Of the sciences? Did the
| Regents have any conception of the mean
/ ing of the word Biology when they voted
10 add the study of 1.-THE science Of life
the living world in sight, and the micro
scOpic world beyond the limit of human
vision and sensibihty?
The poorest outfit for q Biological
| labratory could not be purchased for less
than s., 600 or $4,000; and the provision
would be utterly worthless without a
man ut the head of the department who
had had special training in biological
studies. Whe fitness does the new pro
fessOr(?) bring for the competent and faith
ful discharge of the duties of his office? Is
be microscopic? Is he able TO diStin'
guiSh one animal tissue from an other? Is
he able to distinguish q human Ied-blOOd
cell from red paint stain? In word
what does he know of the sciences he has
been appointed to teach IN the State Uni
versity. The whole action was q farct
and n blunder of serious moment, for it is
diScreditable beyond measure. The Re
gents should abolish the department nj
| together; but if the pretenSe of medica
school, at State eNPence, must be main
tanned, then in the name of common sens,
they should simplify the name of thu
Chair and call it the Department o
Physiology and Hygiene.
| JJhssliRg, ". Ia, June 81.